Today was the kind of day that visitors to Los Angeles decide they must live here....it was clear and dry and the perfect temperature....well, for me!This is what they call 'a Santa Ana condition'....these winds come in with this warm dry air and you can see waaaay out into the ocean from my deck, as well as a lot of other things, too!
This shot was not as close as the top one....I wanted you to see that that really is the Pacific Ocean out there on the horizon....And then I looked back towards the canyon, which you can see as you stand on the extreme right side of my deck, and this next picture is a clear, clean, crisp view of a few houses and that mountain that sits to the right of my house as you face the city....And Mulholland Drive winds around the top of the mountain, sort of....but what you are seeing in the distance are some homes that are close to the top of Mulholland which are part of the Outpost Area, this hill I live on....And those trees that we are looking through are on my neighbors property....What the Santa Ana winds do is blow out all the crap that sits surrounding us and that stuff which people call 'smog'.
And this evening? It's warm for L.A. Balmy. Beautiful. We don't have many balmy nights usually....Most of the time the temperature drops quite a huge amount when the sun goes down....sometimes as much as 30 or more degree's.....But not when there is a Santa Ana...A night like this is a time to take in this special place I live in and to give thanks that I live here surrounded by such incredible beauty....including this simple and lovely sunset....
Earlier today I went outside to check to see if the birds were eating that wonderful fruit, and there were some people standing near some of the plants I put across the street....they were from Russia and just visiting Los Angeles for the very first time....and they looked like they might be considering a move. If there was ever a day to do that...as the older woman said to me..."The weather is so beautiful and warm..."! It certainly was, today....I have been working on something so I haven't been visiting very much at all, today....but I will try to catch up tomorrow if I can...and certainly on the weekend if I finish what I am doing....Meanwhile, here are a few pretty pictures I would love for you to see....
This dear little finch actually has some of that delicious fruit right there ready to be gulped down....it's a bit dark but you can see it! Yum Yum Yum!
I love this next shot, too....Talk about a strong "intention"....a word used in acting classes to describe what it is your character needs and/or wants, etc....'What is your intention here in this scene'? Well, this little guys intention is quite quite clear!
And I will leave you with this last, for today, most incredibly beautiful flower. It is no bigger than a nickel when it is wide open, as it is in this photo below. This looks like the most beautiful crown I've ever seen....the variety of colors just knocks me out! Again, nature! You just cannot beat it!
I hope you are all doing well, and please forgive me for not coming around very much these last few days.....
More To Come, I promise.....
- had this to say:
what a lovely place you've got there . i must live in la !
- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 3:13:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
We probably could see the Atlantic ocean here, if we had a mountain or hill to live on. As it is we have to drive about seven miles or so down to the beach. Lovely sunset and gorgeous flower.
- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 8:03:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a beautiful view you have and area in which to live. Sounds like a perfect day to me too and I liked the photos you shared very much.
- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 8:16:00 AM PDT
-
had this to say:
What a shame you can't have those Santa Ana winds year round. It sounds delightful and your photos of the view and sunset were awesome. Love the little bird and loved your reference to actors in a scene and "intention"....it has to do with my blog for tomorrow and "conflict" in scenes for writers. We were thinking on the same wave length...lol
- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 8:58:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Morning Naomi!
Yes, wasn't yesterday just a dream. From our upstairs landing, you can see all the way to downtown, and the buildings were framed beautifully with orange and blue. So clear and crisp, and even though it's x # of miles, we could see sunshine glinting cleanly off the buildings. We went out at 7p last night, didn't need coats! :)
Hope your day is cheery.
~S- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 9:27:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
I lived in San Fernando Valley and I sure remember the santa ana winds! Most especially trying to drive into canyon country when i did volunteer work at Shambala Preserve. Once a truck was overturned from the winds!!
Your posts always keep my memories of the years I was in california fresh, so I don't forget.. thank you for that.
Those birds sure do eat up the "fruits of your labor"! hehe- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 10:17:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Such awsome pics and such a clear view! may you have many, many days with Santa Ana winds!
I liked your question about intention...it can apply wonderfully to some everyday issues!- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 10:54:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a beautiful view you have, Naomi! So nice to live near the big city and surround by beautiful nature, too! Gorgeous photos as always!
- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 4:49:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I have a love/hate relationship with those Santa Ana winds. I love 'em because it's one of the only times the air is clear and you can see for miles. I hate 'em because it wreaks havoc on my sinuses and Owen's asthma. It's also the time of year I disliked the most when working for the Fire Dept. because of Red Flag Warnings. I talked to a woman the other day who just moved here from the east coast and she was under the impression that our fire season was in the summer. I told her it's actually from Oct-Jan due to our "Santa Ana Season". So far, so good. Here's hoping no fires!
Oh, and your view is gorgeous! When I come over the hill from Hacienda Hts I get the most gorgeous view of Catalina and the ocean. This is why I love California!- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 4:51:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Is that the ocean? Wow! I'm soooo jealous that you live so close to it. I was born in Nova Scotia so was never too far from the Atlantic Ocean ... I miss it :( Lake Ontario is nice but it's just not the same.
- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 5:46:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Gorgeous sunset! Great pictures, as always :)
Don't work too hard!- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 8:14:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
That's a beautiful view. The buildings look like dominos. The pacific! I finally saw it a few years ago. You're making me want to see Los Angeles sometime. It's like a different world (or planet) entirely compared to where I live.
- Thursday, October 19, 2006 at 8:31:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
What a lovely sunset! :)
You have quite a view from your deck. :)
Kendra- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 7:16:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
I have heard of the Santa Ana winds before. So glad they clear out the smog! What a lovely view you have Naomi!!
Great pictures as usual. I love the sunset and that lovely flower that looks like a crown. Just awesome!!!- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 7:48:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
These are absolutely beautiful pictures. What a wonderful view you have.
- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 9:34:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Beautiful pictures as always. Wish you could see the beauty of the Blue Ridge as it is at the peak season right now. Thanks for sharing your beautiful view. Michele sent me today but it's a well worn path.
- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 9:35:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
We've been in every one of the lower 48 states, except ND, and each one has a lot of beauty.
We used to live on Monterey Rd. in South Pasadena. In CA you learn to love a windy day. When it was smoggy, we couldn't even see the foothills.
But you are in an exceptionally lovely spot.- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 1:49:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Love that sunset shot......
and that incredibly beautiful flower....... :-)
aand sweetheart, we forgive you anything :-D
cq- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 1:51:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
What a lovely view.
Also love the Finch pictures
Now today is a day when I may have considered moving to Santa Ana.... it rained whilst I travelled to work and stopped once there... THEN it poured it down whilst I travelled home and then stopped once I was inside!!!!!
Me thinks that the rain wants to be my friend- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 2:09:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
What beautiful pictures as always. Seeing things through your eyes is amazing. Of course we excuse you for not being around all the time and whatever you do, I wish you the very best end to your week:-)
- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 2:58:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
oh i would love a balmy santa ana evening. sigh.
- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 4:28:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Those are very lovely photos (Photos #1,2,3). I love the sunset. Sunsets really get me, I don't know why. That finch is really having a feast on that flower.
Like your garden, your place seems to be a very beautiful place to live in. The sights you see from your place is just awesome.- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 4:52:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
Wow! I love the view you have there. The one shot with the sunset is so beautiful. THe facade of the skyscrapers and the colour of the sunset is fab. You always take lovely pictures Naomi!
- Friday, October 20, 2006 at 11:33:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Oh my gosh! That skyline is fabulous!
- Sunday, October 22, 2006 at 6:27:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
Hi Naomi,
Before I forget..how do you make that flower look so big if it's just the size of a nickel? It's so pretty & so is the bird. That has to be a feast for those little guys.
I'm with you, I LOVE the Santa Anas. I was surprised when they were actually mentioned on Brothers & Sisters the other night. And isn't it weird we just talked about that movie last time on the phone.
What a view!
Location! Location! Location!- Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 10:51:00 AM PDT
x4
